1. We all, meaning some of us, know that in the lower seating "bowl" at Fenway, you can go anywhere, unlike at most other ballparks. The exceptions are the owners' boxes on the home side of each dugout, and, for the last few years, the two field box sections behind home plate. I've always been under the impression they did that to stop fans from going down there to wave at the camera while talking on their phone, and worse, standing up at the same time. This year, I've been noticing way more of the "I clearly don't have a ticket in this section" types behind the plate during broadcasts, so I wondered if they finally went back to leaving these sections unprotected, like all the other field boxes. At my last Fenway game, I was walking around there toward the end of the game, and I'm pretty sure there were no guards at their old stations, and that little chain was down. So I'm not 100%, but we may have the old freedom back. I'll have to try and sit down there next time.

2. Last Sunday, while the Astros were taking BP, one of the grounds crew was walking along the warning track in left field, pushing a wheel barrel/barrow. Hitter lines one toward the Wall. It's right near the guy. He sees it's going just over his head so he doesn't flinch, just keeps right on walking. Ball clanks off wall, goes straight into his wheelbarroewl and stays. He doesn't break stride. All the Astros cheer. It was probably the highlight of their year.

Sox/Jays, latex game, 7:07. Then it's off to Tejas.